Special Management Areas provide a responsive and flexible approach to implementing appropriate management strategies at various sites in the Marine Park. They are an additional layer on top of zoning.

A Special Management Area may be designated for a number of reasons including:

Conservation of a particular species or natural resource for example turtle, dugong, bird nesting sites or fish spawning aggregation sites

Seasonal Closure (Offshore Ribbon Reefs)

The Ribbon Reefs and adjacent areas are unique, as they are located at a particular part of the continental shelf, which drops sharply away from the reef edge. These important areas of reef support diverse species, including large pelagic fish such as marlin.

Special Management Areas designated in these areas provide additional protection to the Ribbon Reefs and adjacent habitats. These Special Management Areas prohibit all fishing and detached dories in these areas from 1 January to 31 August each year.

Species Conservation (Dugong Protection)

These Special Management Areas reflect the requirements of Dugong Protection Areas under Queensland Fisheries legislation to the extent to which those areas are located within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and are designated for species conservation. For more information about these areas, see the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Regulations 1983.

* Amendments to commercial netting rules in Bowling Green Bay Species Conservation (Dugong Protection) Special Management Area - amendments to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Regulations 1983 were introduced in December 2011 to increase protection to dugong within the Bowling Green Bay Species Conservation (Dugong Protection) Special Management Area. The rule changes further restrict commercial net fishing within the existing Species Conservation (Dugong Protection) Special Management Area.

Clarification of rules in Dugong Protection Area Bs for net fishing

Recent amendments to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Regulations 1983 give greater protection to dugong in and around headland areas, by restricting the use of set mesh nets in certain parts of particular Dugong Protection Area Bs. The changes are a technical amendment to clarify long-standing existing netting rules, by providing clear definitions of areas around headlands where the use of offshore set nets is prohibited to reduce the risk of incidental catch to dugong.

Princess Charlotte Bay

This Special Management Area has been designated to protect dugong within Princess Charlotte Bay in the Far Northern Management Area of the Marine Park. The Special Management Area requires commercial net fishers to obtain a permit to operate within Princess Charlotte Bay.